News
Local

Kingston man headlines Drag Fest fundraiser

John Bryant, a professional drag performer whose stage name is Lily DeVine, at his Kingston home on Saturday. He's the organizer of Drag Fest 2017, which takes place Dec. 1 at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 560. (Steph Crosier/The Whig-Standard)

ShowGirls Entertainment is gearing up to present Kingston with a night of comedy, singing, lots of makeup and high heels, all for a good cause.

"As far as I know it is going to be the biggest drag show that Kingston has ever had," John Bryant, organizer of Drag Fest 2017 and owner of Showgirls Entertainment, said on Saturday morning.

The Dec. 1 show will raise funds to support the Canadian Mental Health Association's Gender and Sexual Minorities (GSM) programming, which is close to Bryant's heart.

"It's for the kids, the youth. I know what it was like growing up gay, as many others know, times were a little different then," Bryant said. "I say that like I'm in my 50s but I'm only 33, but even then, looking back, there wasn't those services. If there was, you really had to search and nobody really wanted to put that out there."

Bryant grew up in Rideau Heights and went to Queen Elizabeth Collegiate and Vocational Institute. Today he is a professional drag performer and a single father of an active nine-year-old. Bryant's character is Lily DeVine, who lip syncs and performs standup comedy.

"As John, I mind what I say for the most part, but in drag, you're able to express and let it all out," he said.

Bryant said the drag culture in Kingston is very diverse; from goth to high glamour.

"There's about seven of us now, when I first came on to the scene there were two," Bryant said. "Since I started about six years ago I've won Miss Kingston Pride, being the first drag queen to perform on Wolfe Island, to going to Ottawa and performing there regularly."

Showgirls Entertainment has performed in Gatineau, Toronto and as far as Sault Ste. Marie. So far this year they've performed approximately 30 shows. Bryant said the events, including Drag Fest 2017, are mostly variety shows with each queen bringing their own talents and skills.

"It's like going to the circus," Bryant said.

Everyone is encouraged to attend Drag Fest with high spirits and an open mind, he said.

"We have people coming from CFB Kingston to get tickets, predominantly they've been heterosexual couples, families, and it's amazing to see," Bryant said. "There's always going to be negative and positive with any event, going out in public dressed like a clown, but you don't know what to expect until you experience it.

"About 75 per cent of the people who have come to get tickets have no idea that I'm going to stand up there with a mic in my hand as Lily DeVine. I'll be blasting about everything and anything just trying to get them to laugh. As long as people laugh, that's all that matters."

Drag Fest will be held Dec. 1 from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 560 (734 Montreal St.). Tickets are $25 and are available at the door, or by emailing devine@showgirlsentertainment.com or by calling 343-363-8276. To learn more, search "Drag Fest 2017" on Facebook.